Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-02

Talks With Some OF The Merchants I'm
Regard To II.


Regard To Ii.
WHAT WILL BE DONE DURING THE SUMNER MONTHS
FOR TIE CLERKs-EARLY CLOSING EACH DAY AND
THE HALF HOLIDAY ON SATURDAY BESIDES SUN
MER Observation-Disclosures OF OPINION.
1t is in these torrid days when the hot summer
sun softens the concrete pavement and sends the
mercury in the thermometer bubbling upwards,
that the weary store employe wants a little rest
from the "demnition grind" to which, like Mr..
Mantiltni, he is victim. 1t was about ten years
ago that the question Of the early closing during
the summer months OF establishments employing
large numbers Of clerks and attendants began to
be agftated in Boston and New York. and it was
not long before the leading merchants in those
cities adopted the plan Of closing at O'Clock
day during the heated term. Recently another
step has been taken and the Saturday half holiday
Is now recognized Institution in number of the
large cities. In this city few OF the large estab-
lishments close at I O'Clock on Saturdays during
the summer months, and 1t is probable that the
half holiday will come in time to be generally OBJ
served.
MANAGER LIsNER TALKS.
Desiring to learn what the merchants propose
doing this year in this direction, STAR reporter
interviewed few OF them. Proceeding first to
the Palais Royal, the reporter questioned Manager
LSner
Eyes" he said 'as we were the first to start the
early closing on saturdays, we propose to keep 1t
up. The reason we tnaugurated the half holiday
country town, and II merchants In New York and
Boston can AFFORD to give their clerks half day
on, am sure we can. OF course 1t results in a
little loss TO the merchant, but he is more than
recompenSed by the greater interest which his
employees take in their work when they come to 1t
with refreshed bodies and minds. have found in
my experience that the trade OF to-day is not the
trade OF tomorrow, and unless merchant covers
that OF the day he cannot expect to do 1t tO-mOr
row. We were not so much moved to it by senti-
mental reasons as by those grounded in good
sound sense. We felt that 1T was to our interest
our business intereststo 90 IT, ana we quo IL
ana young men, and in all our relations with them
we endeavor 10 be as humane and just as possible,
and think we succeed. Beginning with July 9,
we shall close our store promptly at O'Clock D.
H. on saturdays and O'Clock on the other days
wish tnat other merchants would take hold OF
this matter, and uniting. close all the stores on
Saturday at O'Clock. But want you to UNDER
stand that the public has more to do with making
shopping public will make up their minds TO do
their shopping or buying on Friday, or early Satur
day forenoon, then the stores could all be closed
i refer particularly to that class whose shopping
time is not restricted"
AT SINISTER 4 SONS.
Leaving Mr.. LiSner the reporter visited next the
store OF Snuster Sons. In response to an inquiry
addressed to group Of clerks one OF their number
said: 81 am the son Of the senior member of the
firm. Mr.. Shuster does not believe in early closing
on saturdays H thinks that business is bust
ness, and II man wants to sell an article to the
public he must be ready to sell whenever the pub
fic is ready. In this case however, the question
has little Importance, as all OF the clerks here are
grown men, some OF whom have been with the
firm for twenty years. Two weeks out of the year
are theirs TO go where they please, and they draw
their salary just regularly as if at home behind
the counter handling silks. At O'Clock, on every
day in the year. holiday or not the store is closed
III any OF the boys want to get OF a little earlier
TO see game OF base ball or 10 go on an excursion
we never refuse them. Besides this, never dis
charge a man unless for cause, and very good
cause, too" The group OF clerks nodded smiling
continuation OF Mr.. Snusters statements.
MR. PERRYs VIEWS
Farther along the Avenue the reporter dropped
into the store OF Mr.. Seaton Perry. That gentle
man said that he would close his store and after
July ) at o'clock p. m. on every business day,
until Sept. 1. Mr.. Perry stated that he gives his
clerks ten days vacation, with pay, each year. and
that all are satisfied.
AT LANsBURGHa
Lansburgh Brothers store, on 7th street, was
next visited, and the reporter had quite long
talk with the manager, Mr.. Ike Cans He stated
that so far his store is concerned 1t is impos-
sible for them to close up at O'Clock Saturdays
partment clerks and Others who do their shopping
after Of11ce hours. He said that the comfort OF
their employees is looked after in every way. The
girls when not engaged in showing goods, are
permitted to sit down, and all day long immense
fans revolve In the rooms and keep the air cool.
Whenever a clerk wants to get OH, says Mr.. Cans
he is never refused. During the whole year the
force remains the same, no discharges being made
on account OF the dull season, and each empoye is
L.
WHAT WOODWARD & LoTHRoP SAY
Messrs. woodward LOthrop, who store was
next visited, stated that they employ about three
hundred and twenty-five clerks, one-thtrd Of
whom are females. Mr.. woodward said: "Be-
ginning July D. we will close this store at o'clock
days OF the week." He stated that he allows his
employees two weeks vacation with pay.
Mr.. DAVIS WILL DO AS OTHERS ON SEVENTH STREET
Z fo1df hoc
he has no objection to the movement he could not
afford to close If the 7th street stores remained
Open his business interests are as closely allied
to the 9TH street trade as to that Of the avenue.
He says that If the others will do 1t he Will. He
closes during the summer at O'Clock pm.
sAKs q co.'s PLANS.
At Saks & Co.'S member Of the firm said that
the character OF their store Is such that 1t would
be impossible for them to close any earlier thar IL
O'Clock IN the '1n-SeaSOn," and 10 O'Clock in the
"out-season." On every other night the store is
closed at 7oclock pm. While no vacation is al
lowed the clerks during the year, except at their
own expense, arrangements are made so that
every other week One-haf of the force OF ITO en-
plOyes get on at O'Clock pm.
THE BON AARCHE
had the same objections to offer, but said that
they would throw no obstacles in the way II all
the other stores on 7th street closed But so long
as one store kept open so would they. They close
on saturdays at $3.50 p. m, and on the other days
at o'clock Should any or the employees wish to
leave an hour or so earlier permission Is almost
invariably granted, unless, of course, the demand
Is made too often. But as general rule an en-
ploye can get OF when he desires to.
WHAT THEY SAY ATBAUMS.
After July 4, Baum's will close at o'clock on
every day except Saturday, when they keep open
Till 10 O'Clock p. m. Mr.. E. Pinerling, the man.
ager, said that their trade demands that they keen
open during saturday evening.
canvass OF the large retail establishments on
It'll street, showed that while all the merchants
d0nr
Saturdays, one will not do 1t unless all the others
WILL The general objection they have to Offer is
that the trade on that street is OF character that
demands them TO keep open till late on Satur-
days. The greater proportion OF the shopping on
that day Is done after O'Clock, when the clerks
and mechanics have received their weeks paw and
have no other time In which to make their pur.
chaSeS F
A member OF the Clerks Assembly In speakinp
about the matter, said that the clerks do not ex
pect the merchants on 9TH street close on SAT-
urdayS at O'Clock. That day Is the busiest one
OF the week, and the majority Of the trading is
done after O'Clock.
The P1umber's Examination Board.
THE JouRNEYMAN MEMBER NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE EXAMINATION OF MASTER PLUMBERS.
STAR reporter asked Commissioner Ludlow to
day what the Commissioners proposed to do in the
matter Of the difficulty between the 1ourneyman
and the master plumbers OF the board for the ex-
animation OF plumbers Col Ludlow stated that
the order appointing the Journeyman, Mr. O'Brien
a member Of the board did not contemplate that
he should participate In the examination OF master
plumbers.
me-